This week we asked the man and woman in the street to talk about the most important issues they would like politicians to address. Their responses follow:
Caroline Wilson – self-employed: ‘The youths in the streets need something to do. I hear [PNCR presidential candidate David] Granger can bring back the National Service and I think he should do that if he was to get in power because they weren’t so many vagrants on the road when that system was in place. Also, I think the situation with the sugar workers should be addressed. These sugar workers are punishing and as a result, we too are punishing because we depend on the sugar workers and our businesses have since slowed up. One other issue that has been bothering me is that of transportation. Lots of these bus operators taking $500 from Parika to Georgetown and I don’t think that’s right. It used to be $360 and now some taking $400 while some are demanding $500.’
Shonell Hyman – self-employed: ‘What bothers me is the fact that everybody got to make a living but yet they say you can’t sell here [Parika Stelling]. Sometimes they tell us that we can sell over the drain then another time they say we cannot sell at all. As a single parent, it’s hard. If I can’t sell then I don’t know how I can look after my children. Secondly, school children, right here in Parika, are working through school hours. [Human Services] Minister [Priya] Manickchand said she is serious about these things but yet nothing is done. Also, when people are psychologically ill, the police should make sure they are not lurking around. People like that would pick up your own things and hit you with it and you can’t do anything and neither can the police. They would say that they can’t do anything because they are mad.’
Steven Paul – private sector employee: ‘The cost of living is very high. Everything is so expensive. I can’t go to the market anymore with $2,000 or $3,000 to shop for 2 weeks’ goods. I have to go with $10,000. As a conductor, travelling every day, I think the roads need to be repaired. Politicians should also address the crime rate in this country. Things really need fixing.’
Meena Rampersaud – self-employed: ‘Politicians need to visit this market and do something here. For some time now, they have been promising to make a shed and I really don’t like being on this road. Nothing is being done as yet. Also, In Zeelugt, they got a lot of children who don’t go to school. Instead, they drinking, smoking and gambling and even the parents are not doing anything about it. Our future is not looking too bright with children like that in it. Politicians should definitely look into this matter. Another thing, work presently is very hard. It is difficult to
maintain your children when the cost of living is so high.’
Sean Coonjah – private sector employee: ‘I’m not really satisfied with the education sector. I think the government is very one-sided with the Amerindian people with regard to scholarships. We, the parents of children who are doing so well in school, are paying VAT and taxes and yet our children are not getting these opportunities. There are many poor Indian and African people who are working hard on the road side and cannot afford this high cost of living. There should be some equality. I think this is a good issue to be addressed by politicians. Also, I think the government is using sugar workers by taking back rules which were made by Cheddi Jagan and are now exploiting the sugar
industry.’
Ezekiel Ragobeer – public sector employee: ‘I don’t like the idea of corporal punishment, I think that is abuse. I passed through it already so I would know. It was so disturbing that I can write a book and parents should not ill-treat their kids because we were all there at one point. Also, the issue of parents abandoning children should be addressed and thirdly, something should really be done about the vagrants in the streets. Finally, I don’t consider VAT to be a problem but what they should do, is drop the amount a bit to probably 8% or 6%. The poor people cannot pay 16% in VAT and 32% in income tax.’
Gaffar Budhu: ‘The politicians really need to address the situation we face transporting goods from Parika to Essequibo. If these trucks we operate don’t carry foodstuff, the Essequibo will not get and as such they should put the proper measures in place. The ferry does not move fast enough and
this is a major problem. We are punishing to supply Essequibo. Recently, a boat was out of service for about 7 days and I’m sure that neither the minister nor the president was aware. We want more boats travelling to Essequibo.’
Rita Lilah – housewife: ‘There are a lot of poor people who need help in this country. Also, they need more job opportunities to help young people become involved in more positive activities. This is also necessary to help people maintain a comfortable life. I think politicians should also look into the water situation and they need to investigate all these unsolved murders because the crime situation is getting to a terrible point.’
Marine Kassim – self-employed: ‘I think they need to address the royal runaround persons face when they go to the passport office and also the adoption system because I, personally, have an adopted
son and I experience much difficulty with him that I shouldn’t be. Another thing is the cost of living. It is so high that after you’ve looked after your total expenditure for a month, you have nothing to contribute to a savings account. Lastly, I think we need a proper parking area in Parika for private vehicles because we, the business people in this community, have to park at the back where people scratch your vehicle and steal parts.
Michael N. Dindyal – self-employed: ‘I transport goods from Parika to Essequibo and it is very difficult because we are taking about 4 days to do so. The fare for the ferry is too high, its $1,880 per ton. Besides that, we have too much violence and robberies in this country. I think this country has one of the highest crime rates and as such, politicians should definitely address this issue immediately.’
